By Dorothy Musyoka
In a major crackdown on land fraud, six individuals known for their illegal dealings in government and private land were arraigned today before the Milimani Chief Magistrate Court.
The court received a miscellaneous application for their continued detention to allow the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to conclude investigations.
“Six individuals known for their sticky fingers on matters government and private land have today been arraigned before a Milimani Chief Magistrate Court on a miscellaneous application for their continued detention to enable the DCI conclude investigations on their illegal dealings,” the DCI stated.
The operation, spearheaded by Mr. Wilhem Kimutai, Officer-in-Charge of the Land Fraud Investigations Unit at DCI Headquarters, was conducted following court orders issued on August 1, 2024, by the Milimani Chief Magistrates Court in Nairobi.
The suspects, identified as Benedict Mwangangi Ngala, Joel Kaluki Mwangangi, Sylvester Mwanzia Mwanthi, Erick Omondi Ojwang, Vincent Boaz Owang, and Titus Wambua Kithuku, were apprehended over the weekend by a multi-agency team.
Ngala and Mwangangi were arrested at Anpemu House on Ngara Road, while Mwanthi and Ojwang were caught in the act of delivering suspicious title deeds to the first two suspects.
Further investigations led to the arrest of Owang at a Nairobi restaurant and his associate, Kithuku, at NCBA Center along Ragati Road/Mara Road junction.
“Benedict Mwangangi Ngala and Joel Kaluki Mwangangi were arrested at Anpemu House along Ngara road, whereas Sylvester Mwanzia Mwanthi and Erick Omondi Ojwang were nabbed while in the process of delivering several copies of suspicious title deeds to the first two suspects,” the detectives reported.
“The detectives managed to hook into their dragnet another suspect identified as Vincent Boaz Owang at a Nairobi restraint, thereafter pouncing on his comrade in crime, Titus Wambua Kithuku, at NCBA Center along Ragati Road/Mara Road junction,” the detectives added.
During searches of the suspects’ business premises, residences, and vehicles, detectives uncovered a significant cache of forged documents.
“Search was conducted in the the suspects’ business premises, residential houses and vehicles where a trove of forged documents including assorted copies of; green cards, transfers of land, certificates of titles, surrenders, certificates of leases, letters of allotment, certificates of titles, deed plans, correspondence letters and idents to and from directors of survey, land administration, Chief Land Registrar, assorted registry index maps among others were confiscated. Additionally, the detectives recovered assorted flash discs, rubber stamps, stamp pads, mobile phones, printers, CPUs among other items of interest,” stated the DCI.
The six suspects are currently in custody, awaiting ruling on their continued detention scheduled for August 6, 2024, at noon before Chief Magistrate Hon. Bernard Ochoi.